The Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University is dedicated to identifying and
developing students with exceptional ability in academic domains. It aims to provide a structure that:

challenges students through an advanced or enriched curriculum;

creates an environment conducive to interaction with intellectual peers;

motivates students to meet high standards of achievement and persist through difficulties and

challenges; and

develops the general attributes students need to become successful adults.

CTD has served more than 400,000 families since 1981, providing a variety of learning alternatives for the gifted student. Led by nationally recognized scholar Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, PhD, CTD also conducts and publishes academic research on gifted students, particularly in the areas of accelerated learning and special populations of gifted learners.

As members of the gifted community have clamored for more services, the Center for Talent Development has evolved from a single focus on talent identification to a multi-faceted operation with four central foci: talent identification, talent development, research and advocacy.

Talent Identification (see Midwest Academic Talent Search)

The foundation of the Center's work, the Midwest Academic Talent Search (MATS), uses above-grade level tests to identify academically talented students in grades 3-9. Talent searches identify students whose abilities may not be recognized fully by their schools, and provide them with information and access to resources that enable them to develop their talents, set appropriate educational and career goals, and define academic paths.

Talent Development (see Summer Program, Saturday Enrichment Program, Gifted LearningLinks distance learning program)

CTD programs seek to provide supports to students to enhance their talent development. Specifically, the academic programs:

provide learning experiences matched to students' identified abilities;

inspire in students a love of learning and a desire for self-development;

provide a community of intellectual peers who value scholarship, academic achievement, and

creativity; and

promote the development of autonomous, disciplined approaches to learning.

Research

CTD conducts studies and prepares reports in areas directly related to its services and as part of funded projects. Studies have investigated the short and long term effects of career and college counseling programs on students, the relationship between off-level scores and family and student background characteristics, gender differences in achievement and factors that influence boys’ and girls’ choices, the long-term effects of summer programs on students' achievement, the articulation between local school programs and extra-educational experiences for gifted students, and the effects of family values and characteristics on talent development. The research of the Center is an integral part of its program model development activities. Some research findings are published in the resources section.

Advocacy

The center aspires to positively affect educational policy and educate the public about gifted and talented learners. Through our development and advocacy efforts the Center: informs parents, teachers and school personnel about the characteristics and needs of talented learners; encourages them to meet these needs; and provides them with the tools to do this. CTD accomplishes this through publications, seminars, classes, presentations, manuals, program materials, and the efforts of our MATS state liaisons and advisory board members. Our newsletter, Talent, provides current information about the Center and other services and programs to gifted students and adults working with gifted.

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for other, made by actual CTD resident edits: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Center_for_Talent_Development&direction=prev&oldid=67647645
this information may be more true on the subject of the traditional rules.
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RC Equinox 2006

During the second session of the 2006 Equinox Program, Alex Vastardis (warmly referred to as 'tard' by her students) served as the controversial residential coordinator. Numerous students were lost and left emotionally and physically scared as a result of her RCing duties and many feel that she should not return to Northwestern for the next summer. Strangely, there was even a recurring plot to cover her dorm room door in newspaper and consequently pee on it, leaving saggy, pee-covered newspapers to which she would have to find her way out of. Unfortunately, the plot never materialized seeing that the KSA (Korean Student Association) kids snuck out of the dorm the night before causing all RTA's to sit outside the hallways.

2006 2nd Session Equinox Trivial Pursuit Tournament

During the 2nd session of CTD's equinox program during the summer of 2006, for the first time in program history, a student team was deemed champion of the annual Trivial Pursuit tournament. Philosophy Honors, led by team captain Marjorie Cantine, smashed opponents in the face with their uncanny ability to come up with answers out of nowhere. With response like "McLean" and "My Dog Skip" Philosophy Honors destroyed all fellow student teams, and headed into the championship game coming off a 6-2 complete victory of the AP English squad. The championship game against the RTA team opened in devastating fashion as the RTA's acquired 4 pie peices in their opening turn. However, with much courage, Philosophy Honors quickly struck back gaining 2 peices their 1st turn and was about to attain their 3rd when the game was cancelled. Unfortunately, the KSA (Korean Student Association) students got into trouble for sneaking out to Michigan Avenue, even when they knew the boundries were only to 'town' (Evanston). Due to scheduling conflicts, the RTA's forfeited the game and thus the Philosophy Honors kids were deemed champions.

See also

Talent Identification Program, Duke University

Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University

Rocky Mountain Talent Search, University of Denver

External links

CTD/Northwestern Home Page

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